Beloved author and poet Maya Angelou has bowed out of plans to attend a baseball event in Houston, Texas this week (30May14) due to ill health. The writer, 86, was scheduled to be honoured by officials at the Major League Baseball organisation at its MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon on Friday (30May14), alongside Motown Records mogul Berry Gordy and American football great Jim Brown, but she has had to scrap her attendance.
MLB bosses cited "health reasons" for her decision to skip the ceremony, which will take place before the annual Civil Rights Game between the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles, but they have not disclosed any further details about her condition.
The event's keynote speaker, U.S. broadcaster Robin Roberts, will accept the prize on Angelou's behalf.
A statement issued by the writer reads: "It is with deep regret that I am unable to attend the MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon.
"I am aware that the Civil Rights Game is Major League Baseball's opportunity to encourage and lead its fans and friends in honoring and remembering a critical time in our nation's history, and I respect the league greatly for recognizing the need for this event.
"I am very proud to be one of the MLB Beacon Award honorees, amongst an impressive list of figures that were, and still are, part of the civil rights movement."
The cancellation news comes weeks after Angelou scrapped an appearance at another event in Fayetteville, Arkansas last month (Apr14), because she was recovering from an "unexpected ailment" which led to a brief hospital stay.

Rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs won over the graduating class at America's Howard University by delivering a fun-packed commencement speech on Saturday (10May14). Officials at the Washington, D.C. institution came under fire earlier this year (14) when it was announced that the hip-hop superstar was set to return to his alma mater to pick up an honorary degree and deliver the 2014 commencement speech, because he had actually dropped out of the school.
However, Combs managed to overcome the controversy by delivering an impassioned speech to the 2014 graduating class, who gave the star a standing ovation and continually chanted 'Diddy'.
He told the students, "Ain't no homecoming like a Howard homecoming. And it feels so good to be home."
Combs took to Instagram.com after the ceremony to share a series of snaps of him in his cap and gown and posing with his honorary doctorate.
Combs attended the university in the late 1980s but left to pursue a career in the music industry. He followed previous speakers U.S. President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and poet Maya Angelou.

University officials in Washington, D.C. are standing by their decision to invite hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs to address this year's (14) class of graduates following a backlash from students. Howard University President Wayne Frederick announced on Tuesday (15Apr14) that the rapper and entrepreneur will return to his alma mater in May (14) to pick up an honorary degree and deliver the 2014 commencement speech, but the news irked members of the student body who took issue with the fact that Combs had been a college drop out.
However, chiefs at the school are refusing to bow to pressure to replace the star.
A representative tells TMZ.com, "Howard University continues the tradition of identifying leaders whose work has clearly contributed to the advancement of their fields and the world... We are honoured to have Mr. Combs serve as our speaker."
Combs attended the university in the late 1980s but left to pursue a career in the music industry.
He follows in the footsteps of previous Howard University commencement speakers, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and poet Maya Angelou.

Officials at a university in America are facing a backlash from students after they announced Sean 'Diddy' Combs would deliver the commencement speech for this year's (14) graduating class. Howard University President Wayne Frederick confirmed on Tuesday (15Apr14) that the hip-hop mogul is due to return to the Washington, D.C. college where he studied in the late 1980s to pick up an honorary degree.
He will also give a rousing speech to students heading into the world of work, but the news has irked some members of the university community who are upset about the choice of speaker because Combs failed to graduate.
Many students have taken to Twitter.com to voice their opposition to the decision to allow a college dropout to give the prestigious address.
Combs follows in the footsteps of previous commencement speakers including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and poet Maya Angelou.
The ceremony will take place next month (May14).

Shalina Photography
The upcoming HBO series Looking has already been compared to two post-feminist dramedies that firmly planted their flags in the sexual landscape of the 21st century, Sex and the City and Girls. But like those groundbreaking shows, your ability to find the sexual candor of Looking authentic might depend entirely on regionalisms or a generational divide.
Although that might be moot when it comes to O-T Fagbenle. While the other characters can hide behind a scrim of sexual choices, his rendering of Frank makes him the most easily visible character on the show. He seems oddly unconflicted, exactly the kind of queer everyman a show like Looking needs.
Even if Frank doesn't feel completely recognizable to you, you will likely wish he were, which is why we wanted to sit down with O-T Fagbenle. What better place to turn for insights into Looking than the actor playing the most centered character on the show?
So, O-T, we might as well start at the deep end of the pool. Looking calls some of the contemporary orthodoxies of gay life into question while it reinforces other ones. Are there aspects of the show that seem particularly true to you? Are there any you struggled with?
My experiences with people who are gay are so eclectic and diverse (as are my experiences with people who are straight), that having lived in the 'straight world' my whole life I recognize more similarities than differences. On the series, our gay characters are in long term relationships, short term relationships, online dating, struggling with the facts of being older and single - all things that straight, bisexual, and almost every other shade of the sexual spectrum deal with. Sure they have gay friends and go to gay bars but I think it's true to say the most interesting things about these characters isn't their sexual orientation, It's their individual perspectives on life and how they deal with looking for love, sex and friendships.
Gay characters have become fairly familiar on the small screen. Would you say Looking is breaking new turf in terms of representation, and did you feel some responsibility to "get it right?"
When representation of the LBGT community was much more scarce in the media, I think there was some kind of pressure to encapsulate an entire community in a single character - this can often be a fast track to generalization and stereotypes. Michael Lannan and Andrew Haigh are so talented at bringing subtle and defined characters to the fore that the gay characters are real and identifiable without being these stock characters out of gay folklore. It's refreshing!
The pressure to "get it right" was definitely there for me, I didn't want to mess this bad boy up so I asked if HBO would fly me to San Francisco before the shoot, so I could spend more time researching and getting a feel for that amazing city and the places were Frank might hang out. I also pretty much tried to stay in character during the entire shoot, which was interesting.
Perfect segue. Because of its significance in American gay history, San Francisco is practically the show's main character. As a Londoner, can you give us some insights into your process for unveiling the soul of the city?
I cycled and walked around San Francisco a lot, made local friends, partied in The Mission, The Castro, the Folsom Fair, spoke to the homeless a lot. I also visited the nude beaches and the redwood forests - there is a lot to do in San Fran. I definitely think I scratched the surface but it's an evolving city so it would take time to get your whole finger in. Shout out to Oakland - that place is cool as #%!*.
There is something off-the-cuff about your reading of your character, Frank. Is he someone you were already familiar with, or was he something of a surprise to you?
Thank you ... I think! Walt Whitman said of himself 'I am large, I contain multitudes,' and I definitely recognize Frank very within my multitudes! Playing him was mostly a matter of allowing myself to reveal some inner shades of me.
When we meet Frank, he is the boyfriend of the only coupled character in the show, Agustin (Frankie J. Alvarez). It's clear from the start that Frank has his hands full, but he seems unfazed by Agustin. Is he simply uncomplicated, or is something else going on there?
Frank is a healer, he desperately wants that independent and troubled lover that he can soothe and tame. He knows if he plays the 'Mom' and tries to control Augustin too hard and too quick it will push his love away. He's playing the long game.
If you were having coffee with Frank, what advice would you have for him about his new boyfriend?
Haha! Umm. Maya Angelou once said 'When someone shows you who they are ... believe them.’ It's good advice for Frank but hell, I'd give that advice to anybody.
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Greg Gayne/FOX
Last week's New Girl found the loftmates celebrating Halloween a week early. The party was, needless to say, a bit of a mess (though not as much so as Schmidt's hellacious office party from a few weeks ago). Antics aside, all of the roommates (plus Cece, of course) had very...well, interesting costumes. Let's take a look, ranked worst to best.
Cece
Oh, Cece...I know you just had your heart broken, but that has got to be one of the lamest costumes ever. A cheetah bralette and a pirate hat? What is that supposed to be? A catty pirate—I mean, is that even a thing? Maybe I'm missing something here.
Nick
Okay, so to be fair, Nick tried even less than Cece, but at least his laziness forced him into a bit of originality: his costume consisted mainly of a rainbow beach towel (secured oh-so-classily with a piece of duct tape) and an old "happy birthday" crown. He dubbed it, "The Paper Mountain Trash King."
Jess
Are we really surprised that Jess would have a completely obnoxious costume? It's even worse than Shelby's "Reigning Cats and Dogs" bit from season 2: Joey Ramone-a Quimby. Pure insufferability. Though she does get points for the adorable bob (maybe Ms. Pantene Spokesperson can be the next starlet to make the chop).
Winston
So as much as everyone teased him for his David Letterman costume (Schmidt thought he was Maya Angelou), it was actually pretty spot-on. He got the shaggy gray wig just right, and the gold, wire-rimmed glasses? So pitch-perfect I got chills.
Schmidt
Is it really any surprise that Schmidt had the best costume of the bunch? He went as a "public serpent"—basically, he wore a skin-tight (would we expect anything else from our favorite douchebag?) lizard costume, and paired it with a snazzy purple tie. Only Schmidt has the confidence to make himself look that ridiculous—and that is why we love him.
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Beloved poet and author Maya Angelou is set to be feted with the National Book Foundation's Literarian Award, an honorary National Book Award, in recognition of her contributions to literarture. The writer will receive the accolade at the organisation's annual prizegiving in New York on 20 November (13).

Tom Hanks is America's most trusted celebrity, according to a new poll. The Forrest Gump star, a three-times Oscar winner, has maintained his clean-cut image throughout his three decade career, and his fellow Americans have awarded him by naming him the most honest celebrity.
He is followed in second place by Sandra Bullock, with Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and poet Maya Angelou rounding out the top five.
Director Steven Spielberg, Microsoft boss Bill Gates, TV host Alex Trebek, philanthropist Melinda Gates, and actress Julia Roberts round out the top ten in the trustworthy stakes in a poll by the Reader's Digest.

Writer Guy Johnson begged his mother Maya Angelou to end his life after he was told he would never walk again following a car accident. Johnson severely injured his spinal cord in the crash when he was in his late 20s, and he was left temporarily paralyzed from the neck down.
Even though his prognosis was poor, doctors kept Johnson alive by hooking him up to a number of life-saving machines, and Angelou admits her son was so depressed, he asked his mum to put an end to his misery.
The And Still I Rise author tells the Associated Press, "Guy Johnson is a wonder. He's been physically challenged. He was paralyzed from his neck down at one point. The doctors had told me, 'Your son, he will never move again, he will never walk again.' I said, 'My son will walk out of this hospital.'
"I walked into the intensive care (unit) and my son said, 'Mum, that which I feared is upon me.' I can hear it now and this is 40 years later. He said, 'Mum, I have to ask you a favour no one should ever ask (of) their mother. I know I'm your only child. I know you love me, but if there's no recovery I refuse to live as a talking head. Will you pull the plug?'
"I started shouting. At the top of my voice I said, 'In that case, recovery. I see you swimming. I see you walking. I see you dancing. And I thank God for it, and I'm claiming it loudly.'"
Thankfully Johnson did recover and he was able to walk out of the hospital, however he still suffers with the side effects of his injuries.

Beloved American author Maya Angelou is recovering at home after a brief hospitalisation. The 85-year-old poet entered a medical facility in North Carolina earlier this week (begs22Apr13) for an unknown ailment.
She has been banned from travelling for the next four weeks while she rests at home and has subsequently cancelled a scheduled appearance at Butler University in Indianapolis on Thursday (26Apr13).
The university's representative Marc Allan says, "Angelou and Butler University officials both said they hope to reschedule her appearance in the fall. Butler University extends best wishes to Dr. Angelou for her continued health and healing."

Toured European and African cities in "Porgy and Bess" for US State Department

Acted off-Broadway in "Calypso Heatwave"

Debuted on Broadway in "Look Away", earning a Tony nomination

Played Nyo Boto on the landmark TV miniseries, "Roots" (ABC)

Provided narration and music for "Perfect Moment" documentary

Appointed to a lifetime posiition as the Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Portrayed Alfre Woodard's mother in "How to Make an American Quilt"

Two plays of hers, "The Least of These" and "The Clawing Within", received productions

Wrote the screenplay and songs for the feature film, "Georgia, Georgia"; reputedly the first produced script by an African-American woman

Appeared in the feature documentary "James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket"

Received Pulitzer Prize nomination in poetry for "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Die"

Supplied the poetry "written" by the character of Justice (Janet Jackson) in John Singleton's "Poetic Justice"; also played Aunt Jane

Co-hosted, with Studs Terkel, George F Will and Doris Stearns, the PBS interview series, "Assignment America"

Directed short film "All Day Long"; also scripted

Librettist, lyricist and composer for the musical "And Still I Rise"; directed production in Oakland, California

Mute for five years until an older friend back in Arkansas helped her deal with the problem (dates approximate)

Served as Assistant Administrator of School of Music and Drama, University of Ghana; contributed to Ghanian Broadcasting Corporation during this period

Acted in ABC-TV movie "There Are No Children Here", starring Oprah Winfrey

Moved back to her mother's house in San Francisco; raped at age 7 1/2 by one of her mother's boyfriends (date approximate)

Wrote the screenplay for "Sister, Sister", an NBC-TV movie

Wrote the screenplay for "Angelou on Burns", a documentary exploring her passion for the poetry of Robert Burns

Was a dancer with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company

Presented poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the Presidential inauguration; written specifically for the event at President Bill Clinton's request

Moved with her parents to California as an infant

Feature directorial debut, "Down in the Delta"

Summary

.

Name

Role

Comments

Tosh Angelou

Husband

divorced c. 1952

Vivian Baxter

Mother

separated from Angelou's father when she was 3 1/2; died c. 1992

Paul Feu

Husband

married in 1973; divorced

Bailey Johnson

Father

separated from Angelou's mother when she was 3 1/2

Guy Johnson

Son

resides in California

Bailey Johnson

Brother

born c. 1926

Colin Johnson

Grandson

resides in California

Vusumzi Make

Husband

divorced

Education

Name

Directing Workshop for Women, American Film Institute

AFI Conservatory

Center For Advanced Film Studies, American Film Institute

Notes

Honored with the Trumpet Award in 1993.

Angelou's participation at the Clinton inaugural was the first time a poet had taken part in the event since Robert Frost spoke at President John F Kennedy's inauguration.

She speaks French, Spanish, Italian and West African Fanti, in addition to her native English.

In 2002, Angelou debuted a line of greeting cards and trinkets produced by Hallmark.

Received the National Medal of Arts from US President Bill Clinton (2000).

Her many accolades include: the Ladies Home Journals Woman of the Year in Communications Award (1983), the North Carolina Award for Literature (1987), a Horatio Alger Award (1992), Essence's Woman of the Year Award (1994) and more than 50 honorary degrees from colleges and universities across the nation.

"My mother, who was very precious to me, died a year ago. When I was 20 I had gone over to her big house, a 14-room house, in San Francisco. I had gone over there and we had had a good afternoon, two or three hours, and we walked out of the house and down the hill. And we were at the very bottom of the hill and she knew I wouldn't take a ride from her, that I would take the streetcar, that I had to own myself. And she said, 'You know, baby, I think you are the greatest woman I have ever met.'

"I watched her, with the light, go to the other corner and I crossed to get the No 22 streetcar and I sat there and I remember everything, the color of the light, the wooden seats, and I remember thinking: 'She's very intelligent and she's too mean to lie. So just suppose she's right? Suppose I really am somebody?' And it was the first time I ever earth. I was aware at that moment of being on a ball." --Maya Angelou to The New York Times, January 20, 1993.

"The most delicious piece of knowledge for me is that I am a child of God. That is so mind-boggling, that this 'it' created everything, and I am a child of 'it.' It means I'm conected to every thing and every body.

"That's all delicious and wonderful--until I am forced to realize that the bigot, the brute, the batterer is also a child of 'it.' Now, he may not know it, bit I'm obliged to know that he is. I have to. That is my contract.

"What fascinates me is the varying ways we approach God. And shape God and paint God, make a staute of God. It amazes me. Once I went to Texas to a conference called 'Facing Evil.' At one point, some fellow from Texas got up and said, 'I really have seen evil, I have felt its force. I went to Germany and I went into the concentration camps.'

"I stood and said, 'Do you mean to tell me that we've come from all over the world and we're going to talk nonsense? You had to go to Germany, you here in Texas who refused Mexican-Americans a chance to vote, you who don't want them to even live next to you, you who have your own history of slavery--you had to go to Germany? I don't wanna hear it.

"it seems to me that if we accept--if I accept, anyway--the fact of evil, I accept the fact of good. We're all doing what Anne Sexton calls 'that awful rowing toward God.' That excites me. It gives me incredible delight to be alive, and prepares me with as little fear as possible for death. It remains that I live a very nice life, most of the time." --Maya Angelou, from an interview with Ken Kelly posted on the Internet